Now, a clinic to help you have a good night's sleep

COIMBATORE: Suffering from lack of sleep? There is help at hand. A full-time centre to treat sleep disorders has just started at the PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in the city. "All sleep related disorders can be treated here," says Dr R M P L Ramanathan, director of the centre.
But how serious is the problem? Doctors say over 30% of residents in a city generally suffer from sleep disorders.However, none has done a study yet on Coimbatore's population.
"Sleep disorder is a serious matter which requires a combined approach of different specialties. Specialists in Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), pulmonary medicine, psychiatry and psychology, neurology as well as nutritionists depending on such cases," says Ramanathan. Patients complaining of sleep disorder are put through various tests and based on the results, (s)he will be treated or referred to the appropriate specialist. "The centre is also for those who need sleeping pills to get some sleep," he said. Treatment will be offered to those with problems like snoring and breathing, says Ramanathan.
According to doctors, most sleep disorders are the outcome of unhealthy lifestyle or physical problems. "Snoring is a result of blocked air in the throat during sleep. This can be due to several reasons. Obese people develop snoring as fat accumulates in the throat. For the rest, it may be due to lack of sound sleep or unhealthy lifestyle," Ramanathan adds. "Sleeping on time and waking up can be the major factor. Moreover, a healthy and balanced diet are also factors needed to be taken care of," he says.
Nutritionists say there must be a gap between food and sleep. "Food must be had one hour before sleep," says Dr S Radhai Sri, an associate professor at the department of nutrition in a prominent city college. Spicy and fatty food must be avoided for dinner.
Finally, a sound sleep is the prerequisite for avoiding sleep-related problems.